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Saturday, July 31, 2010

So far July has been a successful and peaceful month for Julian Heicklen and the rest of us distributing FIJA pamphlets . The International Libertarian was at two of the events, July 29 in Allentown, PA and July 30 in Philadelphia, PA.

In Allentown a reporter from WFMZ, a local TV station, interviewed Julian and filmed him distributing some pamphlets:

The Philadelphia event was much better attended. Not only were many FIJA pamphlets handed out but the Love Police had a blast giving away free hugs:

It was very hot and sunny day. I appeared at the U. S. District Courthouse in Trenton, NJ at 11:43 am. It was so hot that at 12:25, I moved under a tree to distribute the literature.

Two Federal Protective Service police cars and three officers were waiting for my arrival. One looked at his watch and said that I was early. He then approached me and said that I could pass out literature as long as I did not block the doorways. I assured him that I would not.

I started to pass out the American Jury Institute pamphlet entitled “ A Primer for Prospective Jurors” along with my flyer. A second police officer approached me and asked for a pamphlet for his report. I complied. Soon thereafter the third officer approached me and asked for a pamphlet, which I gave him.

I was not bothered by the police for the rest of my visit, though they and the two police cars remained and were still there when I left at 1:05 pm. This reception was very much more hospitable than at our previous demonstration at the Trenton courthouse.

There was not much pedestrian traffic, but I passed out about 35 pamphlets. I encountered interest by a large portion of the people that did pass by. I also met and discussed legal matters with another pro se litigant who has had similar encounters to mine with the police and the courts.

2. FIJA Demonstration of 7/28/10 in Camden, NJ

It was a hot and shady day, but not as hot as yesterday. I appeared at the U. S. District Courthouse in Camden, NJ at 11:46 am. I stood on the public sidewalk, which was federal property, in front of the courthouse.

A city police car was parked across the street. At 12:04 a Federal Protective Service (FPS) police van appeared and parked in front of me on the street divider. The city police car left. FPS Police Officer Mitchell approached me. He was the same officer who approached me yesterday in Trenton. Apparently I have my own police officers, because the police officer who arrested me in Springfield, MA, was also on duty when I was in Hartford, CT.

Officer Mitchell gave me the same talk as yesterday. I was allowed to distribute literature, even though it was clear that I was on federal property, but I could not block entrances to the building. He took the American Jury Institute pamphlet entitled “A Primer for Prospective Jurors,” along with my flyer, that I handed him.

I was there alone during the noon hour. There was very little pedestrian traffic. I distributed about 15 pamphlets.

However, I had three interesting conversations, two with passers-by and one with Federal Protective Service Police Officer Mitchell. All three conversations were friendly. With my permission Officer Mitchell also took my picture holding a JURY INFO sign in one hand and a pamphlet in the other hand for his personal file.

Starting at 12:30 pm, I had a friendly political discussion with Officer Mitchell and the building manager of the courthouse. The building manager took a pamphlet and left. Officer Mitchell and I continued our friendly political discussion until 1:20 pm, when I left for the day. He was surprised that I was arrested for distributing pamphlets at other U. S. courthouses.

3. FIJA Demonstration of 7/29/10 in Allentown, PA

It was a hot and sunny day, but not as hot as 7/27/10. I appeared at the U. S. District Courthouse in Allentown, PA at 11:45 am. I was met by Darren Wolfe with his camera and by a reporter from TV station Allentown 69 News. He interviewed me on videotape. He said that it was planned to be run on the 6:00 pm news tonight. After the interview, he left, because he said that he had another assignment.

I stood on the public sidewalk, which was federal property, under a shady tree, in front of the courthouse. Darren remained throughout and took video picture which will appear on his blog at:

http://theinternationallibertarian.blogspot.com/There were no federal police around and none ever approached me. However the tall red-haired female officer, who was so offensive on my last trip, walked about 40 feet away on her way to lunch and waved at us. We think that her name is Claire Burns. Only briefly a Federal Protective Service police car parked in front of us, but no officer left the car.

I distributed about 35 pamphlets. Darren and I left at 1:05 and went to a nearby Subway for lunch. Our visit at this courthouse was 100 % different than my last experience when George Donnelly was arrested. Apparently the felony assault charge against him has been either reduced or dropped. However he is still charged with photographing on federal property.

4. FIJA Demonstration of 7/30/10 in Philadelphia, PA

It was a hot and sunny day, similar to the day before in Allentown, PA. I appeared at the U. S. District Courthouse in Philadelphia, PA at 11:43 am. I was met by Darren Wolfe with his camera. There were 3 Federal Protective Service (FPS) police officers and a FPS police car at the curb in front of the courthouse, but the officers never approached us throughout the demonstration. Over the next 20 minutes, several others joined the demonstration. These included:

Bob Emery from Strickley Business, who distributed FIJA pamphlets.

Jim Allen and his son, who video interviewed me live on the internet using Qwik.net. They also distributed FIJA pamphlets.

Michael Salvi from Campaign For Liberty, who distributed FIJA pamphlets.

Nick Carangi, and Derek Szteliga, who distributed FIJA pamphlets.

Fernando Salguero and his dog Cree from the Philadelphia Love Police Canine Unit, who announced on a bullhorn that free hugs were available.

We distributed over 150 pamphlets and an undisclosed number of free hugs on the federal sidewalk in front of the courthouse, on the federal courtyard, and across the street. The FIJA demonstration disbanded at 1:20 pm. Darren, Derek, and I had lunch in the Chinese restaurant across from the courthouse. The Love Police were still hugging when we finished lunch and left for the day.

5. Current situation of FIJA demonstrations at U. S. district courts

So far I have distributed pamphlets at 16 different U. S. district courthouses. At 8 of these, there was no confrontation with any law enforcement officers. These were Boston, MA; Camden, NJ; Concord, NH; Harrisburg, PA; Hartford, CT; Johnstown, PA; Reading, PA; and Wilmington, DE. At five courthouses there were attempts by law enforcement officers to drive us away, but we held our ground, and they backed away. These were at Albany, NY; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Philadelphia, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; and Trenton, NJ. Arrests were made at the other 3 courthouses. These are in Allentown, PA; Springfield, MA; and Manhattan, NY. In Allentown on our second and third visits we were left alone. We have not returned to Springfield, MA, yet. Manhattan is a problem. I have attempted to distribute pamphlets there 11 times and have been arrested 10 times on 11 counts. Bile has been arrested once for photography. Currently bile and I are involved in criminal and civil law suits with the Department of Homeland Security and other accomplices for the Manhattan incidents. However the two resisting arrest charges against me have been dismissed.

Thus of these 16 federal courts, 14 currently are not enforcing the Department of Homeland Security regulations against distributing literature and photography without a permit. This is considerable progress.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

I still have not been able to recover all of my property from the arrest of May 25, 2010 when I was imprisoned in Riker’s Island prison. I have sent requests to judges of both the Criminal Court of Manhattan and the District Magistrate Office of the the U. S. District Court of the Southern District of New York to issue orders to their respective property control offices to release my property. The Criminal court of Manhattan has informed me that the $210.00 and psychiatric report are available for me to claim at my convenience in the Clerk of Court’s office.

I have a hearing on July 20, 2010, in front of a magistrate in the U. S. District Court S. D. N. Y. to plead in the case involving the arrest by federal marshals for failing to pay previous fines. I have submitted a brief pointing out that the citations are for unconstitutional arrests and supported the claim with three U. S. Supreme Court decisions. Hopefully, but not likely, the magistrate will dismiss the complaints at this time.

In the Homeland Security civil suit in the U. S. District Court S. D. N. Y. all the named defendants have been served with summons. Lawyers for most of the defendants have filed an appearance with the court. The lawyers defending the various defendants are:

Corporation Counsel for the City of New York for the NY City Fire Department.

Kaufman Borgeest & Ryan LLP for St. Vincent’s Catholic Hospital.

MARTIN CLEARWATER & BELL for the NY Downtown Hospital.

No-one has made an appearance for Bellevue Hospital, but it may be a city hospital and be represented by the Corporation Counsel for the City of New York.

Both of the represented hospitals have claimed that they cannot be sued: St. Vincent’s, because it has filed for bankruptcy; and NY Downtown Hospital, because it claims it is not a state actor and therefore immune from suit under 42 U. S. C. 1983. I have challenged both claims.

Publicity

I have had long radio interviews with “Freedom Frenzy” on Republic Broadcasting Network July 5 and “Liberty News Radio” on July 8. The “American Juror,” published by the American Jury Institute (FIJA) published my Progress Report of the Riker’s Island arrest in full. I am sure that there were many other reports of our activities on the web, but they did not include personal interviews. Thanks to everyone for the publicity. Publicity is the name of the game. It is true. I am a publicity hound.

Many of you on the BCC Tyranny Fighters list are news outlets. I suggest that you would have higher input if you were listed on the open list. For those of you that wish to be on the open list, please notify me, and I will make the change.

Report from George Donnelly

George Donnelly was arrested at the U. S. District Courthouse in Allentown, PA on May 11, 2010. He was charged with assault and placed under house arrest waiting for trial. George sent the following report on July 9, 2010:

“Since June 22 I no longer have the ankle monitor and can travel the lower 48 states without requesting permission.

Paul Hetznecker is representing me. The charges are violations of 18 U.S.C. 113 (a)(5) AND 41 C.F.R. 102-74.385 AND 41 C.F.R. 102-74.390. You can google me and there is an article on libertapedia.org with the full/formal charges. The trial is scheduled for Aug 26, a bench trial in front of the same magistrate again. No jury. Just today Paul received their discovery. I will examine it soon with him.

I think around 150 people have raised a little over $6,000. I am very grateful for contributions as this as been a financial disaster for my family. Not only the costs of defending myself have been highly inconvenient, but also the fact that I had to make arrangements for us to continue renting a house here, instead of moving up to New Hampshire as we planned. There is no rent cost for us to live on our own land in New Hampshire.

I am very grateful for any donations or pitches.

I have a lot to say but am not supposed to be talking at all really. The most important thing is to remain firm in our convictions, to not feel anger, to not seek retribution but to continue righteously on.”

Future schedule

I will be in Portland, OR, with my wife from July 14–19. I had hoped to distribute FIJA literature at the U. S. District Courthouse in Portland, but my wife said no because we are on vacation. She is more persuasive than the United States courts. Therefore, I will not be demonstrating in Portland. Sigh!

I will be distributing FIJA literature at the following locations:

Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at 11:45 am–1:15 pm at the U. S. District Courthouse, 402 East State Street, Trenton NJ 08608-1507

Mike Benoit has written a book entitled “Sham and Shame of the Federal Income Tax.” You can purchase it directly from him for five dollars. His E-mail address is in the header of this E-mail.

The American Jury Institute could also use financial aid. You can become a member or just send a donation. You also can purchase and distribute pamphlets at appropriate places. The web page is www.fija.org.

Warning: You should know that The Federal Protective Service, and possibly the FBI, is intercepting my e-mails. Another violation of our civil liberties. Be prudent if you write to me.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Many times liberty activists handing out information for the Fully Informed Jury Association have been told that they can’t film federal property by the US Marshals and other law enforcement officers at the US District courthouse in lower Manhattan, New York City. Here are some examples of this federal anti-liberty behavior:

In Philadelphia, PA there have been attempts to shut down filming of the pamphleteering too:

Allentown, PA is where the worst incident happened. The US Marshals actually arrested and charged George Donnelly. I’d show you the video but the feds kept it. (I wonder what they’re hiding.)

Things sure are different at the US District courthouse at 500 Pearl St in NYC when they want the public to see a juicy criminal coming or going. There was plenty of filming when con artist extraordinaire Bernard Madoff was there:

When Faisal Shahzad, the suspect in the failed Times Square bombing plot, was there there were many cameras rolling:

Look at all those cameras at the courthouse in the last two videos. Isn’t it interesting how the federal government is happy to allow filming there when they want coverage? When liberty activists show up, handing out jury nullification information, suddenly, there’s no filming allowed.

This is clearly a case of the federal agents wanting to shut down activists handing out information they don’t want people to know about. They also may not want us filming Julian Heicklen’s arrests in case something goes wrong we won’t have evidence of their abuse. Additionally, they may realize that they look pretty thuggish busting Julian for pamphleteering. Whatever their reasons this double standard has got to stop. Liberty activists have the same rights as the main stream media to cover events happening at this courthouse. The next time a US Marshal says "no filming on federal property" we’ll all know he’s lying. Even Department of Homeland Security policy allows filming of federal buildings. Let the cameras roll!

I invite readers to put links in the comments section to other examples of filming on federal property. Thank you.